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Demand-cast system and bandwidth management for delivery of interactive programming

a bandwidth management and interactive programming technology, applied in the field of communication systems, can solve the problems of slow acquisition of the current database of programming information of the program guide, inconvenient use of the bandwidth, and inability to meet the needs of the user, and achieve the effect of efficient utilization of the finite bandwidth

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-10-20
COX COMMUNICATIONS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention provides a system for more efficient utilization of the finite bandwidth available for distribution of interactive program guide (IPG) video sequences. The system utilizes a session manager and a transport stream generator to enable a set top terminal to access an entire array of guide pages from the IPG within the constraints imposed by the limited bandwidth available in the distribution network.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the existing program guides have several drawbacks.
They are very slow to acquire their current database of programming information when they are turned on for the first time or are subsequently restarted (e.g., a large database may be downloaded to a STT using only a vertical blanking interval (VBI) data insertion technique).
Disadvantageously, such slow database acquisition may result in out of date database information or, in the case of a pay per view (PPV) or video on demand (VOD) system, limited scheduling flexibility for the information provider.
However, the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 standards have, in some instances, very strict elementary stream and transport stream formats, causing usage of extra bandwidth for certain applications.

Method used

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  • Demand-cast system and bandwidth management for delivery of interactive programming
  • Demand-cast system and bandwidth management for delivery of interactive programming
  • Demand-cast system and bandwidth management for delivery of interactive programming

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

I. Illustrative Communications Network

[0042]FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative communications network 100 for distributing video sequences to a plurality of terminals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrative network 100 comprises a cable distribution network, but other types of distribution networks may also be used within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0043]The illustrative network 100 includes one or more head-ends 102, one or more centers for local neighborhood equipment 104, a plurality of distribution nodes 106, and a plurality of subscriber stations 108. The local neighborhood equipment (LNE) 104 may be located, for example, at remote hubs of a cable distribution network. The end-user terminals 108 may comprise, for example, interactive set-top terminals (STT) or other devices with similar interactive functionalities.

II. Example Methods and Topologies

[0044]In the present application, the demand-cast term is used to refer to the pr...

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Abstract

A system for more efficient utilization of the finite bandwidth available for distribution of interactive program guide (IPG) video sequences. The system utilizes a session manager and a transport stream generator to enable a set top terminal to access an entire array of guide pages from the IPG within the constraints imposed by the limited bandwidth available in the distribution network.One embodiment of the present invention comprises a system that includes a session manager (SM) and a transport stream generator (TSG) within a distribution control center. The SM monitors and controls usage of demand-cast stream bandwidth within the distribution network. The TSG receives information from the SM on each demand-cast stream. The information includes which set top terminals, if any, are currently acquiring the stream. The TSG uses the information to control the demand-cast streams multiplexed into the transport stream for distribution to the set top terminals.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 178,100, filed Jan. 26, 2000, inventors Sadik Bayrakeri and Donald F. Gordon, and entitled “BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERY OF INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE.” The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 524,854, filed Mar. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,737, inventors Sadik Bayrakeri, Donald F. Gordon, Edward A. Ludvig, Eugene Gershtein, Jeremy S. Edmonds, John P. Comito, and Alfred Li, and entitled “BANDWIDTH MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERY OF INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE.”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to communications systems in general. More specifically, the invention relates to video communications systems and interactive program guides for video programming.[0004]2. Description of the Background Art[0005]Over the past few years, the television industry has ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H04N7/16G06F3/00H04N7/173H04N21/236H04N21/262H04N21/434H04N21/6405H04N21/6408H04N21/658
CPCH04N7/17336H04N21/23614H04N21/26216H04N21/658H04N21/4348H04N21/6405H04N21/6408H04N21/26283
Inventor GORDON, DONALD F.BAYRAKERI, SADIKLUDVIG, EDWARD A.GERSHTEIN, EUGENEEDMONDS, JEREMY S.COMITO, JOHN P.LI, ALFRED
Owner COX COMMUNICATIONS
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